Hughton impressed with Stam's work at Reading

Steve Bailey

Albion manager Chris Hughton has praised the job Jaap Stam has done at Reading this season ahead of tomorrow's match.

The Royals appointed Stam in the summer and they are fourth in the Championship, eight points behind second-placed Brighton.

Hughton said: "I've been hugely impressed with the manager and the work he's done there this season.

"They play a style of football which is very expansive and from the start of the season when there were perhaps some frustrations with that, he's built a philosophy that's got stronger and stronger as the season has gone on, so credit to the manager and they've got very good players."

Hughton is now looking to build on the win at Barnsley last week and ahead of two big home games, against Reading and Newcastle, said: "Momentum is a big thing in our game as we know and our home form has been very good but we'll need that."

With a busy period coming up, Hughton has been grateful for no midweek game and said: "It's always welcome in a season to have a free week as such but however the weeks are, you get used to adjusting.

"Whether it's a Friday night game or a Sunday game or two games a week, you have to adjust to what cirumstances are."

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